Dispensing and display container



March 8,' 1960 J. w. HoovER DISPENSING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed July 15, 1956 llelll Il I |I Il E 1" INVENTOR.

JOH/V W- HOOVER BY .ff-0p f v ATTORNEYS [1,927,697" DISPENSNG DISPLAY coNrAlNER f ,a

John W. Hoover, Los AltosQCal-if., assgnor to Fibreboard Paper Products CorporationMSan Iiraucisco,

Calif.,a corporation of Delaware Application July 1s, 1956, snat No. 597,751

Claims. (Cl. 21'1-v-50) f AThis invention relates to containers, and more -particularly to a dispensing and displayvcontainer for .the merchandising of flat rectangular shaped objects such as oor covering tile` f f Summarizing the invention, the ,dispensing and display container comprises an upright framework, having- ,walls through which the objects are visible andwhich Yform a bin for a stack of suchobjects supported inlcolumnar overlying relationship. lThe; horizontal crossfsectional shape of the bin is of substantially theUsamesize-,as the objects. Desirably, the framework and bin are formed of metal rods secured together-` jand, which provide spaces therebetweenthrough whichthe. tile are visible. To enhance the effectiveness of the display and to support the tile above the oor upon-which the framework! is supported, and also to reinforce the structure, a support platform is provided for the bottom-of-threy stack; which rvis elevated above the bottom of the framework.

Each wall of one pair of opposite walls of the framework is slottedrsubstantially the entire length betweenthe stack support platform and the top of the framework to facilitate manual removal of the tile. At the same time, these slots providev resiliency to enable spreading apart of the other pair of walls of the framework to facilitate insertion of the tile into the bin. Another desirable feature is the incorporation of a display frame mounted on the framework and which is swingable from a position below the top of the framework to a position above the top and vice versa, for displaying printed advertising matter.

From the preceding, it is seen that the invention has as its objects, among others, the provision of an improved dispensing and display container which is of such construction as to enable ready visibility of the objects contained therein, which will facilitate both manual insertion and removal of the objects, and which is of simple and economical construction. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from perusal of the following more detailed description thereof.

Referringv to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the container of this invention, illustrating in phantom lines a columnar stack of fiat rectangularly shaped floor covering tile supported thereon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with a central portion of the framework broken away to shorten the view.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view adjacent the top of the framework illustrating the same with the display frame in down position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the advertising frame illustrated in raised display position.

The container is formed desirably entirely of rod or wire members, preferably of metal, and comprises a rectangular bottom support 2 adapted to rest on a supporting structure such as a floor or display table. Suitably secured to bottom support 2 by spot welding or YPatented Mar. 8, 1960 yICC 1 brazing or by any other means are a plurality of upright rod members 3 vspaced apart as illustrated in Fig. 1. Rods; are not provided at the corners; so that the container is unobstructed and open at all four corners'. The rods adjacent each corner form part of an integral rod structure bent at its upper end to provide a right angularly v shaped top portion 4 connecting such corner rods to rein force the structure.`

f Adjacent to and in elevated relationship with respect to bottom support platform 2 is a stack support 6 also formed of Vrod members suitably secured by` spot welding or ybrazing to the rods 3; thestack support platform'6 `being of substantially the vsame rectangular shape as the shape of tile 7. Each corner 8 of stack support platform 6 projects between the rods'3 adjacent each openY corner ofthe container, as do. the ,unconcealed corners of the tile, thus enhancing the display effect. By spacingstack support platform 6 above bottom support 2, not only does this enhance the display effect but it also serves to reinforce the structure by providing two spaced apart locations of attachment of rods 3.

It will be noted that stack support platform 6 `is spaced apart from bottom support 2 a little less than 1.4: the height of the container, thu's forming a tile receivingbin 9 spacedfabove the bottomgof the structure. The horizontal cross sectional shape of such'bin is of, substantially the same size as the tile-to effect a neat display. r f Each of one pair of opposite walls of thebin formed by the rods 3 at the left and right sides thereof asY appearing-in Fig. l, is slotted at 10 the entire length between stack support platform 6 and the top of the bin.. These slots 10resultfromfthespacing apart of t'worods 3 included vin each of suchiside wallsn' In addition, the rods 3 included inthe other pair of. oppositeV walls' forming'the front and rear walls of the bin are secured together by horizontal reinforcing rods 11 and 11' on the front and rear walls, respectively, and which are located below the top of the bin. Slots 10 facilitate manual removal of the tile because one desiring to remove the tile can readily insert his hands into the slots and lift out the tile without interference. Also, such slots provide resiliency so that the front and rear walls of the bin can be spread apart to facilitate insertion of the tile into the bin upon stacking thereof. Reinforcing rods 11 and 11' also provide handles for lifting the bin with tile therein when this is desired.

A display frame is desirably mounted on the container so that advertising matter for the product, such as price or style, can be placed thereon for ready visibility to the customer. Such advertising frame comprises a metal wire bent to form a rectangular frame portion 12, and legs 13 provided with eye portions 14 at their lower ends swingably mounted on the rear reinforcing member 11. A at plate 16 for carrying the advertising matter is mounted on frame portion 12.

Rear reinforcing member 11 is formed with hooks 17 at its ends to engage the rear sides of legs 13 in the elevated position of the display frame and hold it in such position. The display frame can be readily raised from its position below the top of bin 9 to a display position above the same as shown in Fig. 4 merely by pinching legs 13 together and pivoting the frame upwardly. By engaging legs 13 in front of the hooks 17, such frame will be held in elevated position. Lowering of the display frame can be quickly effected in a reverse manner.

The described container not only provides an effective display and dispensing container, but also it can be used as a package for shipment of the objects when so desired.

I claim:

1. A dispensing and display container for a stack of rectangularly shaped flat floor covering tile or the like comprising an upright framework of rods providing spaces spams? therebetween through which tile are visible, said framework forming a binv for said tile stack of rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape of thevsame size as said tile, the bin being open at all four corners thereof, a support platform for supporting the bottom of said stack attached to said rods Yand elevated above the bottom of said framework, each wall of one pair of opposite walls of the bin including two upright rods spaced apart to provide a slot extending substantially the entire length between said stack support platform and the top of said framework to facilitate manual removal of tile from said bin and providing resiliency to enable spreading apart of the other pair of walls of the bin to facilitate insertion of tile into said bin, each wall of said other pair of walls including two upright rods and a transverse reinforcing rod connecting the same, the upright rods of the respective walls of said framework which are adjacent and define each corner of the bin being connected together at their tops.

2. The container of claim l in which a display frame .is mounted on one of said reinforcing rods for swinging movement from a position below to a position above4 the top of said framework and vice versa.

3. An open framework dispensing and display container for a stack of polygonally shaped objects comprising `pairs of opposite walls extending upright from a polygonal bottom support, each of said .walls .including atleast two upright elongated rods connected at their bottom yends to said support, each of the opposite walls of a pair of said walls having a transverse reinforcing rod extending rbetween the upright rods thereof, oneY of said transverse rods providing mountingmeans for securing a swingable display frame to said container, a display frame positioned on said one rod, said display frame being movable between a lower position below the top of said framework land an elevated position above the top of ysaid framework, said one transverse rodV including means for holding said display frame in said elevated position, and a flat polygonal stack support platform extending-between said pairs of walls and connected thereto, said platform CII ,4 being spaced above 4said bottom support and extending substantiallyA parallefthereto to"spa`cesaid objects from the surface upon which said container rests.

4. An open framework dispensing and display container for a stack of rectangular at oor covering tile or the like comprising pairs of opposite walls extending upright from a flat bottom support for said container, each wall including at least two upright ,elongated rods connected at their bottom ends to s'aid support, aflat stack support platform connected between said walls yat a location spaced above said bottorn support, said platform and said walls forming a tile receiving bin therebetween having a rectangular horizontal .cross-section substantially the same size as said tile, each of the opposite walls of a pair of said walls being slotted substantially the entire length between said platform and the top of said framework to facilitate insertion and removal of said'tile relative to said bin, each of the opposite walls of the other pair of said walls including a transverse reinforcing `rod extending between the upright rods thereof, one of said transverse reinforcing rods .providing mounting means for securing a display frame to said container, Aand a display frame swingably positioned on said one rod and movable between a lower position below the top of said framework and an 4elevated positionY above the top of said framework.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said one transverse reinforcing rod includes `hook shaped extensions engageable withsaid display frame for holding the same in the elevated position.

vReferences Cited -in ltheflile of this patent UNITED STATES BAI'ENTS Y214,269 Winghart Apr. l5, 1879 813,789 Fox e Feb. 27, 1906 1,302,117 Winter Jan. 9, 1956 FQRlElGlfl PATENTS 1,115,694 France Jan. 9, 1956 

